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Unmukt Chand: Arrived for IPL 2013 with a red-hot reputation after two Twenty20 centuries but that cooled off after a season in which he didn't play a single influential innings despite getting plenty of chances with a faltering Delhi Daredevils. Now with Royals, he has been overlooked for the opening spot in favour of Karnataka youngster Karun Nair or Mumbai stalwart Abhishek Nayar.

Shaun Marsh: While he may be infuriatingly inconsistent in Tests, he has been among the most consistent batsmen in the IPL. A part of Kings XI Punjab since the start, he has rewarded them with 1903 runs at an incredible average of 44.25 and a strike-rate of 133.26. His opportunities are limited given that Kings XI are winning everything this season, Glenn Maxwell and David Miller have been the stand-out batsmen this season, George Bailey leads the side and Mitchell Johnson brings fearsome pace to the attack.

Vijay Zol: Chand's successor as India's Under-19 captain, he has had a breakthrough domestic season with Maharashtra. He's still awaiting his IPL break, having not got a game last season with Royal Challengers, and being omitted by them this season for the likes of Sachin Rana and Yogesh Takawale.

Manpreet Juneja: Like Chand, plenty was expected of this Gujarat batsman when he got his chance with Daredevils in 2013, but he couldn't quite deliver. Now on the bench in Sunrisers Hyderabad, though they are still seeking support for their big three at the top of batting order.

Saurabh Tiwary: His starring role in the Mumbai Indians' middle-order in 2010 made him a millionaire at the auction the following year. Since then, little has gone right for Tiwary, and though he has scored plenty in this domestic season, Daredevils initially preferred the other Tiwary, Manoj, and then Maharashtra's Kedar Jadhav to him.

Gurkeerat Singh (wk): The highlight of his IPL career so far was a 12-ball 29 that put the final touches to a chase of 191 against Deccan Chargers in 2012. Last season, he was in the spotlight more for a stunning catch to dismiss Ross Taylor than for his batting, and will have to fight for a place in Kings XI Punjab with state-mates Mandeep Singh and Manan Vohra.

Thisara Perera: Showed off his big hitting at the death to win several matches for Sunrisers last season, but like Marsh he'll have to wait his turn at Kings XI due to the quality of the franchises' first four overseas picks.

Parvez Rasool: The biggest name in Jammu & Kashmir cricket, he hasn't got a game yet since Sunrisers have stuck with the two legspinners they invested heavily in, Amit Mishra and Karn Sharma. If the franchise decides to go in with only one leggie, then they are likely to turn to his offbreaks and batting skills.

Samuel Badree: Ranked the world's No. 1 bowler in Twenty20s by the ICC, he has had two solid World T20s but his place in the Chennai Super Kings XI is blocked by two solid India spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Rahul Shukla: Showed at the Champions League last season that he has the pace to inflict damage, but can be expensive as well. Has had few chances in the IPL so far, and has been on the Daredevils bench this year due to the presence of Mohammed Shami and Jaidev Unadkat.

Pat Cummins: Frequently injured but seen as a future superstar, he was signed almost as an afterthought by Knight Riders. Currently, Morne Morkel is doing the job he can - bowl at extreme pace to spook the opposition.

Parvez Rasool surely deserves a chance, can't understand this fruitless combination of SRH going with two leg spinners every time!Parvez Rasool is far better than Karan Sharma and Amit Mishra, especially with his batting skills!

Posted by ssenthil
on (May 3, 2014, 5:21 GMT)

Lot of misses here same as IPL franchisees missing the key players. Baba Aparajith should be there as well as Manan Vohra who was retained. I think Rayn Doeschate ahead of Pat Cummins as far as IPL is concerned.

Posted by Nadeem1976
on (May 2, 2014, 19:00 GMT)

i think BCCI should organize a mini IPL after every IPL and in mini IPL all bench warmers should play to get a chance in next IPL.

how come a bench warmer shows his worth without playing any game. for the betterment of IPL, BCCI should give chance to bench players too.

May be IPL should enforce the rule that no player can play more than 10 games in IPL regular stage.

Posted by lazytrini
on (May 2, 2014, 15:43 GMT)

Kevon Cooper doesn't have the prominence of all of these, but his numbers show he makes the most of every chance he gets.

Some usual bench warmers got chance in this IPL and they performed well One is Surya kumar Yadav was in the bench of Mumbai Indian for 3 , 4 years he performed well for KKR this season second is Akshar Patel, he also was a MI bench warmer last season now he is also performing well for KXIP now

Posted by BAADSHAH TARAK
on (May 2, 2014, 11:10 GMT)

Vohra or Mandeep singh will be better choice than pujara for Punjab

Posted by jee1
on (May 2, 2014, 10:33 GMT)

Kings XI need to play Marsh instead of bailey and let him open with Sehwag.Pujara shd be rested and Vohra/Mandeep shd be played in the middle order.. Let Sehwag/Marsh be the captain

Posted by YadavAjay
on (May 2, 2014, 4:19 GMT)

KXIP, include Mandeep Singh over Pujara or Sehwag. Agreed Pujara is going to become a great Test & ODI player but T20 is not his cup of tea. It is very painful to see a player of his caliber struggling so much and tinkering with his technique. But again that is the truth of the moment as it does not matter how good you are but if you know to swing a bat fast enough, hits or mishits are going to give you runs because of the qualities of bats nowadays.